Details of this month’s film screenings at the KCC – three this month.
In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, the Korean Cultural Centre UK will be offering 3 film screenings through June. After Bae Hyoung-jun’s Once Upon a Time in Seoul on the 10th June, we will be showing Kim Ki-duk’s Address Unknown on the 17th June, and Yu Hyun-mok’s Rainy Days on the 24th June. Each film depicts war and its aftermath from a distinct perspective. There will be accompanying events related to the Korean War as well, see below for details.
The first film, Once Upon a Time in Seoul (2008) will be screened on the 10th June. The director describes the Korean War orphans’ struggle for survival in the devastation that was post-war Korea. Alternative title : “Boys Don’t Cry”
Synopsis
1953, the Korean war has ended, but the fight for survival has just begun. Two 18 year old boys, Taeho and Jongdu, live in a camp for orphaned boys, which is more of a concentration camp where everyone suffers from hunger, inhumane treatment and unbearable work conditions. But these two have a dream of a better tomorrow. Taeho is the one with wits and brains and Jongdu is the tough street fighter. Together they scheme to steal US Army supplies and recruit other boys to grow their business. But when they start to take business away from the local gangsters, their fight fur survival turns into a war…
Address Unknown (2001) by Kim Ki-duk who is also well known in the UK will be showing on the 17th June. It is a story about the suffering and deviance of children in the 1970s’ whose mothers were Korean and fathers had been American soldiers. Address Unknown is one of LKL’s preferred Kim Ki-duk films, being more grounded in realism than many of the others.
There will also be a guided tour of the new exhibition: “Present from the past” for the first 30 guests to the film-screening on the 17th June.
The final film, Rainy Season will be screened on the 24th June. The director, Yu Hyun-mok’s films have had a lasting legacy on Korean cinema from his use of realism to his approach to modernization. Rainy Season illustrates a wounded family which reflects the circumstances of Korea in the mid-1950s’ dichotomised by the ideological confrontation that the war presented. There will be a food tasting event followed by a brief talk by a veteran from the British Korean Veterans Association prior to the screening.
All events at the Korean Cultural Centre are free to enter but reserving a place is strongly advised.
To reserve your place on the above events please R.S.V.P to [email protected], clearly stating your name, telephone number and which event you would like to attend.Accompanying events:
1. Guided Gallery Tour
– A guided gallery tour of the new exhibition “Present from the Past” will be offered to the first 30 visitors for this screening.
Thu 17 June, 18.30 – 19.00
2. Rice Ball Tasting / Talk by the British Korean Veterans Association
– Taste rice balls which were scarce provisions during the Korean War and listen to the war veteran’s experiences and to learn a little about the BKVA.
Thu 24 June 18.30 – 19.30